Daily driver 318LA roller vs fat tappet

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Boduke

Boduke

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So, my crank end play is about 1/4 inch. My TC bolts are hitting the separator plate. My $hit it tired.
Its a 73 318 with Edelbrock intake and cArb. Stock exh manifolds with 2.5 turbo exh. 2:73 peg-leg 8.25 with a 904 auto. Im going with a long block reman 318. I will not be doing a cam swAp as its just a driver that looks the part and sounds good and doesnt overheat with 19” radiator. I like getting 20 mpg and i can still scratch the tires.
Reman 318 from sweatshops come in 2 flavors… roller and non roller.
The price difference doesnt matter. What one do i want?
 
And if you upgrade to a little more aggressive cam in the future, which most people do, you have the lifters, rocker gear, and lifter bores already set up for a roller. Read;cheap. Just a camshaft is needed.
 
Appreciate all the replies. Looking like roller is the logical choice for this application.
 
Boduke said:
So, my crank end play is about 1/4 inch. My TC bolts are hitting the separator plate. My $hit it tired.
Its a 73 318 with Edelbrock intake and cArb. Stock exh manifolds with 2.5 turbo exh. 2:73 peg-leg 8.25 with a 904 auto. Im going with a long block reman 318. I will not be doing a cam swAp as its just a driver that looks the part and sounds good and doesnt overheat with 19” radiator. I like getting 20 mpg and i can still scratch the tires.
Reman 318 from sweatshops come in 2 flavors… roller and non roller.
The price difference doesnt matter. What one do i want?
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Just make sure the roller motor will accept a mechanical fuel pump or you wi need a electric and possibly a regulator.
 
Boduke said:
Ooph. Welll thats a deal breaker. Thanks for that
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Every LA roller that I've had apart had a timing cover that either had a block off plate on the fuel pump boss, or the boss wasn't finish machined (easy to open up). The factory cams were all long-nose, so an eccentric can be installed with minimal fuss. If it's a reman, I can't vouch for what they re-cammed it with- if it's a Magnum cam, you can't run an eccentric without the Hughes adapter.
My vote goes to the roller LA.
 
Professor Fate said:
Every LA roller that I've had apart had a timing cover that either had a block off plate on the fuel pump boss, or the boss wasn't finish machined (easy to open up). The factory cams were all long-nose, so an eccentric can be installed with minimal fuss. If it's a reman, I can't vouch for what they re-cammed it with- if it's a Magnum cam, you can't run an eccentric without the Hughes adapter.
My vote goes to the roller LA.
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Absolutely, but something to think about and deal with. The roller LA's weren't around forever and the OP needs to make sure what he's buying.
 
Boduke said:
Ooph. Welll thats a deal breaker. Thanks for that
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You can always modify/convert a non mechanical fuel pump engine to accept a mechanical fuel pump...

It will require a cam with the 'long nose' and then the fuel pump eccentric, and timing chain for the mechanical fuel pump...

No deal breaker if you are willing to convert...
 
Good info here. I just have to look into it. I meant thanks for bringing that to my attention. I had no idea. Im actually having a hard time sourcing any engine at all now. Yeah, roller, with mech fuel is what im after. I dont mind doing a conversion if thats an option. . Thanks again..
 
Boduke said:
Good info here. I just have to look into it. I meant thanks for bringing that to my attention. I had no idea. Im actually having a hard time sourcing any engine at all now. Yeah, roller, with mech fuel is what im after. I dont mind doing a conversion if thats an option. . Thanks again..
Click to expand...
Hey, there was a guy here that was selling a running 318 and transmission.
 
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